PICTURE: UNSPLASH: SWIMMING
Summer’s here, and pools and the sea are always buzzing as people soak up the sun and take a dip on sunny days.
This is the best time to learn how to swim, because the weather permits and most people will be enjoying outdoor activities, including swimming.
Learning how to swim can be a rewarding, life-saving skill that involves overcoming fear, mastering important techniques, and consistent practice.
Here are some of the key steps of learning how to swim:
- Get Comfortable in the Water: The first and most critical step is managing any anxiety and getting used to how your body feels in the water. Start in the shallow end, practice wading, and gently submerge your face to get comfortable with the sensation.
- Master Breath Control: Proper breathing is important. Learn to exhale smoothly into the water and inhale quickly when your face is above the surface. This is a primary skill that precedes stroke work.
- Learn to Float: Floating on your back and stomach helps you understand float ability and build confidence that the water will support you. This is an essential safety skill.
- Practice Kicking: A strong, consistent kick is vital for movement and body position. Using tools like fins can help you develop proper technique and build leg strength early on.
- Develop Arm Strokes: Learn the basic arm movements for foundational strokes like freestyle and backstroke. A pull buoy can be useful during this phase to provide leg buoyancy and let you focus solely on isolating and developing upper body technique.
- Coordinate the Full Stroke: Combine your kicking, arm strokes, and breathing into a fluid, efficient movement. This takes practice and patience.
Also see: 5 Health benefits of swimming
